The Baule mask, also known as the Goli mask, was used in tribal dances during harvest festivals, in processions to honor distinguished visitors and at the funerals of important figures, such as family members. The circular face represents the life-giving force of the sun and the horns symbolize the great power of the buffalo. The Baule are farmers who populate the eastern side of the Ivory Coast. They are part of the Akan people, one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa, who dwell in both Ghana and the Ivory Coast.
